2026 Empire 8 Men's Lacrosse Players to Watch

Men's Lacrosse | 2/12/2026 11:30:00 AM

The 2026 Empire 8 men's lacrosse season is set to begin on Saturday, February 14, 2026 with three teams in non-league action. The Cardinals of St. John Fisher Univeristy will attempt to win their seventh straight Empire 8 crown as 10 teams will battle for the 2026 E8 Championship. League play gets started on Sunday, March 21.

The top six teams will advance to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with first round games Tuesday, April 28, semifinal action Thursday, April 30 and the championship game on Saturday, May 2. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship

Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.  

ALFRED UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Jason Lockner
Hunter Cupp, Sr., F/O, Bath, NY/Haverling – Cupp, a second team all-conference selection in 2025 and a first team selection in 2024, had a stellar season at the face-off "X" in 2025. He finished the season with his highest face off percentage of his career at 78.2 percent. He went 193 for 265 on the season and added two goals.  

Cole Loewke, Sr., A, Hilton, NY/Hilton - Loewke had his best season in 2025. He landed third team all-conference as an attackman. In 13 games, Loewke had 34 goals and 12 assists with 54 shots on goal. Defensively, he picked up 18 ground balls and caused six turnovers. 

SUNY BROCKPORT - Head Coach Nick Fiorentino
Pierson Jacobs, So., A, Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Wheatfield - In his debut season, Jacobs started all 14 games he played. He totaled 26 goals and seven assists on the season with 43 shots on goal. Jacobs was third in scoring for the Golden Eagles and fourth in points. He added seven ground balls and one caused turnover. 

Marc Zappulla, Jr., A, Laurel, NY/Mattituck - Zuppulla is expected to be a bigger contributor in 2026. In 2025, he totaled 11 goals and 12 assists, giving him 23 points on the season. He added 34 shots on goal, picked up 15 ground balls with five caused turnovers. 

SUNY GENESEO - Head Coach Ian Nash
Josh Knapp, Jr., D, Fairport, NY/Fairport - Knapp wrapped up a career season for the Knights in 2025. He finished up his season recording 27 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers on the defense. His efforts earned him first team all-conference honors as well as an honorable mention USILA All-American nod. 

Aksel Stanat, So., A, Brighton, NY/Brighton - Stanat, a 2025 third team all-conference selection, had an impressive debut as a Knight. He totaled 20 goals and six assists, earning himself 26 points on the season and landing fourth in scoring on the team. He also picked up 13 ground balls and caused one turnover. 

HARTWICK COLLEGE - Head Coach Connor Bishop
Colin August, Sr., A, Garrison, NY/James I O'Neill - August, a repeat E8 Player to Watch, is a two-time second team all-conference member. He played his best season yet as a Hawk in 2025. He totaled 43 goals and four assists with 84 shots on goal. His 47 points led the team on offense. He added 43 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers. 

Harry Rubin, Jr., M, Portland, ME/Portland - Rubin finished his 2025 season with two goals and three assists on three shots on goal. He picked up 13 ground balls and caused seven turnovers. He will be a big part of the midfield in 2026 for the Hawks. 

KEUKA COLLEGE - Head Coach Ty Trombley
Harrison Root, Jr., A, Jefferson, NJ/Jefferson Township - Root started all 15 games in 2025. He had an impressive 31 goals and two assists on 66 shots on goal. He lead the team in goals and was second in points with 33. In addition, he picked up 28 ground balls and caused seven turnovers. 

Jaxson Tucker, So., G, Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy - Tucker, in his first season with the Wolves, played in all 15 games. He recorded 200 total saves and recorded three wins on the season. 

NAZARETH UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Rob Randall
Matthew Farrington, Sr., A, Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley - Farrington, a second team all-conference and E8 all-tournament team member in 2025, was second on the Golden Flyers with 61 points on 37 goals and 24 assists. He scored at one least one goal in all but one game on the season. He added 20 ground balls and six caused turnovers. 

McLean Ralston, Sr., G, Fairport, NY/Fairport - Ralston, the 2024 Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year, is a repeat E8 Player to Watch. In 2025, he earned third team all-conference honors and was a first team selection in 2024. In 2025, he tallied 145 saves with a 13-4 record between the pipes. His efforts put him third in the league in a 10.54 goals against average. 

SUNY POLY - Head Coach Eric Miccio
Ryan Carroll, Jr., M, Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley - Carroll was fourth in offense for the Wildcats in 2025. He tied for second in goals with 20 and had five assists with 70 shots on goal. Defensively, he picked up 53 ground balls, the second-most on the team, and caused 14 turnovers. 

Luke Taylor, Gr., M, Union-Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott - Taylor led the way for the Wildcats in scoring in 2025. He notched 22 goals on the season with 12 assists, earning him 34 points. He was important on the defensive side as well, scooping 23 ground balls with five caused turnovers. 

RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE - Head Coach Erich Skelly
Jordon Hankel, So., G, Cold Spring, NY/Haldane - Hankel, in his debut season, started all 17 games for the Gators. He tallied 242 saves with a 53.5 save percentage and 14.35 goals against average. 

Carson Pesce, So., A/M, Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury  - Pesce, in his first season with the Gators, played in all 17 games with 14 starts. He totaled seven goals, 14 assists with 15 shots on goal. On defense, he picked up 16 ground balls and caused six turnovers.

ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Dave Dobbins
Sean Donaldson, Jr., M, Springfield, PA/Springfield - Donaldson, the 2024 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, earned second team all-conference accolades in 2025. He recorded 32 points in 21 games including 25 goals and seven assists. On the defensive end of the field, Donaldson added nine ground balls and five caused turnovers. 

Tyler Manning, Sr., G, Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills - Manning, the 2025 Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year, earned first team all-conference honors as well as an honorable mention all-american nod. He played in 21 games and made 20 starts in his junior season. He recorded the third-most saves (185) by a St. John Fisher goalkeeper in a single season. He is a 2026 USILA Honorable Mention Preseason All-American.

UTICA UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Sean Behan
Ryan Considine, Jr., A, Syracuse, NY/West Genesee - Considine, a repeat Empire 8 Player to Watch, was a second team all-conference member in 2025. He led the team in scoring last season totaling 52 points, with 32 goals and 20 assists. He picked up the second-most ground balls for the Pioneers (42) and had five caused turnovers. 

Gianpaul Cooper, Sr., D, Liverpool, NY/Liverpool - Cooper was a leader on the defense in 2025. He led the team in caused turnovers with 23 and added 23 ground balls. 

Final 2025 Empire 8 Men's Lacrosse Standings
St. John Fisher (16-5, 9-0 E8) - League Champions
Nazareth (13-6, 8-1 E8) 
Geneseo (11-7, 7-2 E8)
Hartwick (9-7, 6-3 E8)
Brockport (8-9, 5-4 E8)
Alfred (6-9, 4-5 E8)
Utica (6-10, 3-6 E8)
Russell Sage (5-12, 2-7 E8)
Poly (5-10, 1-8 E8)
Keuka (3-12, 0-9 E8)

2025 Empire 8 Men's Lacrosse Tournament Recap
First Round
No. 4 Hartwick College defeated No. 5 SUNY Brockport, 12-11 – BOX SCORE
No. 3 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 6 Alfred University, 16-7 – BOX SCORE

Semifinals
No. 2 Nazareth University defeated No. 3 SUNY Geneseo, 14-12 – BOX SCORE
No. 1 St. John Fisher University defeated No. 4 Hartwick College, 30-6 – BOX SCORE 

Championship
No. 1 St. John Fisher University defeated No. 2 Nazareth University, 21-10 – BOX SCORE

2025 Empire 8 Men's Lacrosse Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Brady Mason, Sr., A, St. John Fisher University
 

• Tyler Manning, St. John Fisher, Sr., G, Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills - 2025 Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year, 2025 USILA Honorable Mention All-American, 2026 USILA Preseason Honorable Mention All-American
• Sean Donaldson, St. John Fisher, Jr., M, Springfield, PA/Springfield - 2024 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
• McLean Ralston, Nazareth, Sr., G, Fairport, NY/Fairport - 2024 Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year
• Josh Knapp, Geneseo, Sr., D, Fairport, NY/Fairport - 2025 USILA Honorable Mention All-American